Pushing means for use in a wrapping machine

ABSTRACT

A pusher assembly used in combination with a wrapping machine to insure firm seating in a package-receiving means and insure an improved application of an adhesive or solvent material to the wrapping material. An engaging means including a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means contacts the following side of at least one package being fed into the wrapping machine. The auxiliary pushing means is disposed behind the primary pushing means. The engaging means and the package are moved along a path to a wrapper-sheet-applying station. The primary pushing means is effective to urge the package into a receiving means and the auxiliary pushing means is effective to insure a firm seating of the package in place within the receiving means. In more specific embodiments of this invention, a stationary liquid-applying device is disposed adjacent the receiving means. In this instance, the auxiliary pushing means is further effective to insure an additional thorough application of liquid from the liquid-applying device to the wrapper sheet which is being placed on the package.

United States Patent 72] Inventor Andrew W. Anderson West Caldwell, NJ.[21] Appl. No. 26,929 [22] Filed Apr. 9, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11,1972 [73] Assignee Scandia Packaging Machinery Company North Arlington,NJ.

[54] PUSl-lING MEANS FOR USE IN A WRAPPING MACHINE 7 Claims, 6 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl 53/234, 198/103, 198/168 [51] Int. Cl ..B65bl1/32, 865g19/22, 865g 37/00 [50] Field of Search 53/210, 225, 228-234; 198/103,168

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,412,525 11/1968 Heinzer53/229 3,504,476 4/1970 Ehrenfried et a1. 53/33 X 2,373,655 4/1945Bronander 53/234 Attorney Lowry, Rinehart, Markva & Smith ABSTRACT: Apusher assembly used in combination with a wrapping machine to insurefirm seating in a package-receiving means and insure an improvedapplication of an adhesive or solvent material to the wrapping material.An engaging means including a primary pushing means and an auxiliarypushing means contacts the following side of at least one package beingfed into the wrapping machine. The auxiliary pushing means is disposedbehind the primary pushing means. The engaging means and the package aremoved along a path to a wrapper-sheet-applying station. The primarypushing means is effective to urge the package into a receiving meansand the auxiliary pushing means is effective to insure a firm seating ofthe package in place within the receiving means. In more specificembodiments of this invention, a stationary liquid-applying device isdisposed adjacent the receiving means. In this instance, the auxiliarypushing means is further effective to insure an additional thoroughapplication of liquid from the liquid-applying device to the wrappersheet which is being placed on the package.

PATENTED JAN: 1 m2 alsaalss z lN/ENTOF? v III ANDREW W. ANDERSONATTORNEYS PATENIEB JAN} 1 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 OOGOOOOG INVENTOR ANDREW W.ANDERSON 24 00/7, Em? 777mua f ATTORNEYS PUSIIING MEANS FOR USE IN AWRAPPING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of a pushing deviceto provide a supply of packages in a wrapping machine is well known inthe prior art. Examples of such wrapping machines are found in U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,373,655 and 3,055,490. In each of these prior art structures, asingle transverse bar is used in combination with a double endless chainmechanism to move packages from a supply location into a receivingmeans. The receiving means in each of these prior art patents is aturret wheel assembly used for wrapping packages. In addition to simplypushing the package forwardly, the prior art has also disclosed the useof the transverse rod to press one of the flaps of the wrapper sheetagainst a moistening wick for the purpose of applying an adhesive ormoistening material to the wrapper sheet material.

In the operation of such prior art machines, several disadvantages areassociated with the use of a single pushing member. From time to time,incompletely wrapped packages or some other irregularity occurs withrespect to the incoming packages being fed to the wrapping machine. Suchirregular conditions may cause the wrapping machine to be shut down. Theshut down would be caused by the wrapping machine becoming jammed due tothe irregular package condition being fed into the wrapping machine. Thesingle pusher bar would then be subjected to bending or becomingsomewhat out of alignment due to this jammed condition.

Problems arise when the single bar is subsequently used to push otherpackages into the wrapping machine after the jammed condition has beenremoved. There is a tendency for the single pusher bar to effect anincomplete contact between the projecting end of a wrapper sheet towhich a solvent or adhesive material was being applied. When fullcontact of the wrapper material is not made to the liquid-applyingdevice, the wrapper sheet ends are not firmly joined and anunsatisfactorily wrapped package results.

Another deleterious condition has also been found to exist during theautomatic operation of such a wrapping machine. Wrapping machines aredesigned to run at a fairly high rate of speed. When the package ispushed from a supply location into a receiving means, there is atendency for the package to bounce out of the receiving means. That is,the momentum of the package being placed into the receiving means wouldvery often result in the package not being seated firmly in thereceiving means. This condition is especially found in the wrappingmachines of the prior art which incorporate the use of a turret wheelassembly. If the package is not properly seated within the pocket of theturret wheel, subsequent sealing operations at other work stations aredeleteriously affected.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of this invention toprovide an assembly to be used with a wrapping machine for insuringproper seating of a package in a wrapping machine receiving means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pusher assembly fora wrapping machine to insure satisfactory application of liquid to thewrapping material for forming a completely sealed and wrapped package.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pusher assemblyhaving a primary pushing means nd an auxiliary pushing means disposedadjacent to one another and traveling in the same direction of travel asthe package which is to be wrapped.

It is still another object of this invention to overcome the specificdisadvantages associated with pusher assemblies presently available inthe prior art for use in combination with a wrapping machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a combinationcomprising engaging means for contacting the following side of at leastone package being fed into a wrapping machine. The engaging meansincludes a primary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means. Theauxiliary pushing means is disposed directly behind the primary pushingmeans and moves in the same line of travel as the package being fed intothe wrapping machine. The engaging means and package are moved along apath to a wrapper sheet applying station. A means is provided forreceiving the package after a wrapper sheet has been applied thereto.

In a specific embodiment of this invention, the receiving means consistsof a turret wheel assembly having a plurality of pockets for receivingthe packages. Transverse rod members are used in a specific embodimentof this invention to constitute the primary pushing means and theauxiliary pushing means. The first rod urges the package into the turretwheel assembly and the auxiliary pushing rod is effective to insure afirm seating of the package in place within each turret wheel pocketwhich receives a package.

In a further specific embodiment of this invention, a stationaryliquid-applying device is disposed immediately below the turret wheelassembly. The wrapper sheet is disposed across the advanced end and twosides of the package with both ends of the wrapper-sheet-projectingrearwardly from the turret wheel pocket. The first pusher member acts topress one of the rearwardly projecting ends of the wrapper sheet againstthe liquid-applying device. Additionally, the second pusher rod providesa supplementary pressing action between the wrapper-sheet-projecting endand the liquid-applying device.

Through the action of the auxiliary pushing means, which is a secondtransverse pusher member in these specific embodiments, thedisadvantages associated with the use of a single pusher rod member areclearly overcome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Other objects of this invention willappear in the following description and appended claims, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specificationwherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a double pusher assembly made in accordancewith this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the double pusher assemblyurging a package along a horizontal support;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a pusher assembly of FIG. 1shown urging a package into a receiving means;

FIG. 4 is the pusher assembly of FIG. 1 shown at an advanced stage ofoperation;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1 showing theaction of the auxiliary pushing means on the package, and

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 1showing the action of the auxiliary pushing means in combination with aliquid applying device.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS More specifically, a pushingassembly generally designated I0, includes a pair of endless chains 11and a plurality of transverse pusher members 12 and 13. The pushermembers 12 and 13 are fixedly attached to the chains 11. The primarypusher member 12 engages the following side of the package 14. Theauxiliary pushing member 13 is disposed oehind the primary pusher member12.

As the endless chain 11 moves forward, the primary and auxiliary pushingmembers 12 and 13, respectively, travel in the forward direction behindthe package 14 to a wrappersheet-applying station. Thewrapper-sheet-applying station is not shown in the instant case and doesnot form a part of this invention. Any conventional manner of applying awrapper sheet onto a package may be used in combination with the pusherassembly 10. A mechanism for feeding and cutting wrapper sheets to beplaced over packages is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,837,978.

The package 14 moves along the support 15 while being urged to thewrapper-sheet-applying station. The endless chains 11 move along achannel 16. The manner in which the endless chains 11 move through themechanism is another conventional structure heretofore known in theprior art. The wrapper sheet material may be cellophane or any otherfilm material. Each of the endless chain 11 engage sprockets 17 whichare laterally spaced with respect to each other and located adjacent awrapping machine receiving means.

The receiving means in this specific embodiment constitutes a turretwheel assembly 18. The turret wheel assembly 18 has a plurality ofradial pockets as is well known in the prior art. See in particular US.Pat. Nos. 3,055,490 and 2,373,655. The chain 11 which is used to pushpackages into the turret wheel assembly 18 is constantly driven. Thespeed of the turret wheel assembly 18 is correlated with the speed ofthe chain drive 11. This operation involves synchronization to effectthe desired packaging. The turret wheel stops for one-third of the cycleand it is moving for twothirds of the cycle. During the one-third of thecycle is when the package 14 is being inserted into the pocket andliquid material is being placed on the projecting end of the wrappersheet. Each pocket is formed by the pocket members 19 and 20 whichsupport the package 14 within the turret wheel assembly 18. The primarypusher member 12 is effective to urge the package 14 into the receivingmeans constituted by the pocket members 19 and 20. As the sprockets l7rotate and carry the endless conveyor chains 11 in a differentdirection, the auxiliary pusher member 13 is allowed to contact thepackage 14. In this way, pusher member 13 is effective to insure a firmseating of the package 14 in place within the pocket of the turret wheelassembly 18.

The pocket members 19 and 20 engage the package 14 adjacent one endthereof. Similar pocket members engage the package 14 at the other endthereof. A folding platform 21 is disposed between the sets of pocketmembers forming each pocket in the turret wheel assembly 18. Thestationary platform member 21 is fixedly mounted onto the wrappingmachine with the frame structure 21a.

A stationary liquid-applying device 24 is disposed adjacent thereceiving means in this specific embodiment. The stationaryliquid-applying device 24 includes a vertically disposed working member25 which is moistened with either a solvent liquid or an adhesivematerial. As the conveyor chains 11 change the direction of travel ofthe primary pushing member 12 and auxiliary pushing member 13, eachpusher member 12 and 13 comes into successive contact with the lowerprojecting end 23 of the wrapper sheet which has been placed around thepackage 14. The auxiliary pushing member 13 becomes effective to insurean additional thorough application of liquid from the liquid-applyingwick 25.

The stationary platform 21 provides a place against which the auxiliarypushing member 13 folds the projecting end 23 of the wrapper sheet. Asthe endless chains -ill continue to move around the axially aligned andlaterally spaced sprockets 17, the auxiliary pusher member 13 exerts anadditional force onto the projecting end against the wick 25. Thisaction insures fulland complete application of either a solvent materialor an adhesive material to the end 23 for subsequent joining of the ends22 and 23 around the following end of the package 14. The step-by-stepoperation of the pushing assembly 10 made in accordance with thisinvention is sequentially shown in FIGS. 3 through 6.

It is emphasized that various types of engaging means may be used tocontact the following side of at least one package moving into awrapping machine. As long as there is a primary pushing means and anauxiliary pushing means disposed therebehind, the desired effects asoutlined in the above description may be obtained. Any desired means maybe used for moving the engaging means and the package along a path to awrapper-sheet-applying station. It is not absolutely necessary that theengaging means and the conveying means for the package are a part of thesame structure. However, the two structures are clearly used incombination as set forth in the above-described specific embodiments. Avery important aspect of this invention is directed to the changing ofthe direction of travel for the primary pushing means to thereby allowthe auxiliary pushing means to engage the following side of the package14. This insures the seating in the receiving means by the package 14 inone of the embodiments as described. An additional feature of anotherspecific embodiment is that the auxiliary pushing means effects theadditional thorough application of liquid from the liquid-applyingdevice The structure of the liquid-applying device 24 is deemed to bewell known in the prior art and does not form a part of this invention.A specific type of device which may be incorporated in the structure ofthe combination as disclosed herein may be found in US. Pat. 2,373,655.

While the pushing means for use in a wrapping machine has been shown anddescribed in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to beconsidered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and thatchanges in detail and construction may be made therein within the scopeof the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine, the combination comprising:

a. means for moving at least one package along a path to thewrapper-sheet-applying station,

b. means for receiving said package after a wrapper sheet has beenapplied thereto,

c. said moving means including a pair of axially aligned spacedsprockets adjacent said receiving means and endless chains passingaround said sprockets,

d. a first transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endlesschains to engage said package and being effective to urge the packageinto the receiving means, and

e. a second transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endlesschains behind the first pusher member,

f. said second pusher member being effective to engage the package afterit is in the receiving means to insure a firm seating of the package inplace within the receiving means.

. ln a packaging machine, the combination comprising:

a. means for moving at least one package along a path to awrapper-sheet-applying station,

b. means for disposing a wrapper sheet across the advanced end and twoopposing sides of the package,

c. means for receiving said package after a wrapper sheet has beenapplied thereto with both ends of the wrapper sheet projectingrearwardly from the receiving means,

d. a stationary liquid-applying device disposed adjacent the receivingmeans,

e. said moving means including a pair of axially aligned spacedsprockets adjacent said receiving means and endless chains passingaround said sprockets, a first transverse pusher member fixedly attachedto the endless chains to engage said package and being effective to urgethe package into the receiving means, pusher member, g. a secondtransverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chains behindthe first pusher member, said second pusher member being effective toengage the package after it is in the receiving means to insure a firmseating of the package in place within the receiving means, and beingfurther effective to insure an additional thorough application of liquidfrom the liquid'applying device.

3. In a packaging machine, an assembly comprising:

a. means for moving at least one article along a path to an articlereceiving station,

b. said moving means including a conveyor means, a primary pushing meansand an auxiliary pushing means,

c. said primary and auxiliary pushing means being disposed at differentlocations on the conveyor means to travel in a forward direction behindthe article,

d. said primary pushing means being effective to engage the followingside of the article for moving the article into the receiving station,

e. said conveyor means including means to change the direction of travelof the primary pushing means so as to allow the auxiliary pushing meansto next engage the following side of the article to insure a firmseating of the article in place within the receiving station.

4. in a packaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein The receivingstation includes a turret wheel assembly having a plurality of pocketsfor receiving the article.

5. In a packaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said conveyormeans comprises an endless, closed loop means which carries said primaryand auxiliary pushing means,

said auxiliary pushing means is located behind the primary pushingmeans.

6. In a packaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein a stationaryliquid-applying device is disposed adjacent the receiving station andthe receiving station includes a turret wheel assembly having aplurality of pockets for receiving the articles and a stationaryplatform,

said stationary platform being located between the turret pockets andagainst which platform the auxiliary pushing means is effective to folda projecting end of a wrapper sheet to which liquid is applied forsealing the wrapper sheet around the article.

7. An assembly for moving articles from a supply station to a receivingstation in a packaging operation comprising:

a. means for moving at least one article along the path to anarticle-receiving station,

b. said moving means including an endless, closed-loop conveyor means, aprimary pushing means and an auxiliary pushing means,

. said auxiliary pushing means being disposed behind the primary pushingmeans on said closed-loop conveyor means,

d. said primary pushing means being effective to engage the followingside of the article for moving the article into the receiving station,and

e. said conveyor means including means to change the direction of travelof the primary pushing means so as to allow the auxiliary pushing meansto next engage the following side of the article to insure a firmseating of the article in place within the receiving station.

1. In a packaging machine, the combination comprising: a. means formoving at least one package along a path to the wrapper-sheet-applyingstation, b. means for receiving said package after a wrapper sheet hasbeen applied thereto, c. said moving means including a pair of axiallyaligned spaced sprockets adjacent said receiving means and endlesschains passing around said sprockets, d. a first transverse pushermember fixedly attached to the endless chains to engage said package andbeing effective to urge the package into the receiving means, and e. asecond transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endless chainsbehind the first pusher member, f. said second pusher member beingeffective to engage the package after it is in the receiving means toinsure a firm seating of the package in place within the receivingmeans.
 2. In a packaging machine, the combination comprising: a. meansfor moving at least one package along a path to a wrapper-sheet-applyingstation, b. means for Disposing a wrapper sheet across the advanced endand two opposing sides of the package, c. means for receiving saidpackage after a wrapper sheet has been applied thereto with both ends ofthe wrapper sheet projecting rearwardly from the receiving means, d. astationary liquid-applying device disposed adjacent the receiving means,e. said moving means including a pair of axially aligned spacedsprockets adjacent said receiving means and endless chains passingaround said sprockets, f. a first transverse pusher member fixedlyattached to the endless chains to engage said package and beingeffective to urge the package into the receiving means, pusher member,g. a second transverse pusher member fixedly attached to the endlesschains behind the first pusher member, h. said second pusher memberbeing effective to engage the package after it is in the receiving meansto insure a firm seating of the package in place within the receivingmeans, and being further effective to insure an additional thoroughapplication of liquid from the liquid-applying device.
 3. In a packagingmachine, an assembly comprising: a. means for moving at least onearticle along a path to an article receiving station, b. said movingmeans including a conveyor means, a primary pushing means and anauxiliary pushing means, c. said primary and auxiliary pushing meansbeing disposed at different locations on the conveyor means to travel ina forward direction behind the article, d. said primary pushing meansbeing effective to engage the following side of the article for movingthe article into the receiving station, e. said conveyor means includingmeans to change the direction of travel of the primary pushing means soas to allow the auxiliary pushing means to next engage the followingside of the article to insure a firm seating of the article in placewithin the receiving station.
 4. In a packaging machine as defined inclaim 3, wherein The receiving station includes a turret wheel assemblyhaving a plurality of pockets for receiving the article.
 5. In apackaging machine as defined in claim 3, wherein said conveyor meanscomprises an endless, closed loop means which carries said primary andauxiliary pushing means, said auxiliary pushing means is located behindthe primary pushing means.
 6. In a packaging machine as defined in claim3, wherein a stationary liquid-applying device is disposed adjacent thereceiving station and the receiving station includes a turret wheelassembly having a plurality of pockets for receiving the articles and astationary platform, said stationary platform being located between theturret pockets and against which platform the auxiliary pushing means iseffective to fold a projecting end of a wrapper sheet to which liquid isapplied for sealing the wrapper sheet around the article.
 7. An assemblyfor moving articles from a supply station to a receiving station in apackaging operation comprising: a. means for moving at least one articlealong the path to an article-receiving station, b. said moving meansincluding an endless, closed-loop conveyor means, a primary pushingmeans and an auxiliary pushing means, c. said auxiliary pushing meansbeing disposed behind the primary pushing means on said closed-loopconveyor means, d. said primary pushing means being effective to engagethe following side of the article for moving the article into thereceiving station, and e. said conveyor means including means to changethe direction of travel of the primary pushing means so as to allow theauxiliary pushing means to next engage the following side of the articleto insure a firm seating of the article in place within the receivingstation.